Subjects
-Abstract
Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) is one of the most clinically important opportunistic pathogens involved in both community-(CAIs) and hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).The hypervirulent K.pneumoniae (hvKp < /em>) responsible for disseminated infections in healthy and immunosuppressed individuals has emerged with considerable ability to get antibiotic resistance as well. We aimed to characterize the virulence genetic profile and resistance phenotypes of the clinical K.pneumoniae isolates at Menoufia University Hospitals (MUHs) by phenotypic and molecular methods. Methods: 84 K.pneumoniae isolates were collected and classified as classic (cKp < /em>) or hypermucoviscous (hmvKp < /em>) phenotypes by string test. Antimicrobial resistance patterns were determined phenotypically and multiplex PCR verified the existence of some of the suspected virulence genes. Results: Out of 84 K.pneumoniae isolates, 27 (32.1%) had a positive string test and identified as hmvKp < /em>. The remaining 57 isolates (67.9%) were string negative and reported as cKp < /em>. Higher resistance rates associated with ESβL, AmpC and carbapenemase production were observed in cKp < /em> compared to hmvKp < /em> particularly those of hospital origin with a significant statistical difference (p < 0.05). RmpA and iutA genes were strongly associated with hmvKp < /em> than cKp < /em>. The prevalence of blaKPC-2 gene was significantly higher in cKp < /em> (33.3%) than hmvKp < /em> (7.7%). 80.8% of the isolated hmvKp < /em> isolates proved to be hvKp < /em> (positive for both rmpA and iutA genes). Conclusions: HmvKp < /em> strains are isolated from patients with increasing frequency and constitute a significant proportion of clinical K. pneumoniae isolates. The emergence of blaKPC-producing hvKp < /em> strains in the hospital settings confirms the importance of epidemiologic surveillance and clinical awareness of this pathogen.
DOI
10.21608/mid.2021.74461.1147
Keywords
Klebsiella pneumoniae, hypermucoviscosity, hypervirulent, blaKPC
Authors
MiddleName
-Affiliation
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt
Email
asmaaelbrolosy@yahoo.com
City
-Orcid
-MiddleName
-Affiliation
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt
City
-Orcid
-MiddleName
-Affiliation
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt
Email
nahed_alrajhy@hotmail.com
City
-Orcid
-MiddleName
-Affiliation
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt
Email
dr_esraa_elmahdy87@yahoo.com
City
-Orcid
-MiddleName
-Affiliation
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt
Email
rashagalal2009@yahoo.com
City
-Orcid
-Link
https://mid.journals.ekb.eg/article_172862.html
Detail API
https://mid.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=172862
Publication Title
Microbes and Infectious Diseases
Publication Link
https://mid.journals.ekb.eg/
MainTitle
Characterization of virulence genetic profile and resistance patterns of clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates: Classic versus hypermucoviscous phenotypes